fruit days, fire signs, + biodynamics

Biodynamics is the ancient study and practice of observing the moon and doing specific tasks and garden tending based on the phases and signs the moon is currently in. Simply put, it can be referred to as moon gardening. This practice has been observed for centuries by indigenous stewards but was put into words by German gardener Maria Thun, who spent over 50 years on her farm studying the outcomes of different activities at different phases and times. Over the years science has built into the spiritual nuance, creating a practice that is both fact and feeling, intentional and intimate. Biodynamics considers the fact that all the fruits of the garden we see come from complex networks of intelligence and plants that are following the miniscule cues of the world around it.

The evolution of a seed may seem as simple as plant, water, sunlight, grow, but biodynamics creates a relational experience between you and the plants you care for. It recognizes the significance of gravity, the impact of light availability, and the energy exchange of working yourself to the bone for no reason. It challenges you to move at a pace that is set by the sun, earth, and moon, which brings the gift of slowing down in a world that moves extraordinarily fast.

To build a practice of biodynamics is to make note of first the moon phase and then the moon sign, and build a course of action based on that. The phase will give you information on what is happening in the earth (directed by the moon) and the sign will give you information on what activities would best support the garden space. This reel is a great visual representation of how the gravitational pull impacts the movement of water, how the orbit of the moon impacts the way we experience gravity. Both plants and humans alike experience the subtleties of water rising and falling since both are composed largely of water. Have you ever wondered why we experience higher tides around full and new moons? It’s because the gravitational pull is so strong it surges water forward. Similarly, when the moon is in descending phases, gravitational pull is lessened. This impacts the biological response a plant has on a day to day basis — gravity might be pulling energy towards the roots, towards leaf growth, towards flowering, etc. The moon is a constant factor here.

Observing what sign the moon is in determines what type of day it is in the gardening world. Biodynamics took the 4 elements of the zodiac (earth, air, water, fire) and categorized them into different plant parts to create an easeful association between the moon and what plants need attention and care that day. It is broken down as follows:

• Root days are when the moon is in an earth signs (Capricorn, Virgo, Taurus)
• Fruit days when the moon is in a fire sign (Aries, Sagittarius, Leo),
• Leaf days when the moon is in a water sign (Cancer, Pisces, Scorpio), and
• Flower days when the moon is in an air signs (Libra, Gemini, Aquarius)

To determine which crop falls into which category, consider the parts that are being used after harvest. It is true that a tomato plant flowers, but the end crop is a tomato, so it falls under the fruit category. Calendula is of course a bright and shiny flower, but if your goal is to send a few to seed so that you can plant for next season, you’d do that care and work under a fruit day instead of a flower day since the focus is seeds.

Fire signs are the embodiment of blazing summer days and are considered barren and dry in biodynamics. We can understand this further by considering the general temperament of the fire signs.

• In Aries, we observe cardinal* fire, an initiator and head strong champion for anything that needs to be done. This brings to mind the image of a bull in a fine china shop; leading with fiery energy, little consideration for what is happening around it.
• In Sagittarius, we observe mutable* fire, a tireless ball of energy who that is looking for containers to enthusiastically fill. Imagine a match, looking for the next fork in the road and the next source of output.
• In Leo, we observe fixed* fire, a steadfast stream of sun that offers brutal and unflinching light. The visual here is the desert, hot and dry and unforgiving.

*Modalities of the zodiac offer great insight to the inherent natures of signs. Cardinal energy is forward, initiatory momentum. You can expect that cardinal signs will be taking forward action in whatever element they represent. Mutable energy is adaptable, shapeshifting, optimizing whatever circumstances they find themselves in. You can expect optimism and flexibility from these signs. Fixed energy is steadfast, consistent, and difficult to invoke change in (read: stubborn as heck). You can expect fixed signs to be determined on whatever course they’ve decided on.

The similarities we can see across all the fire signs is that they carry an intensity that is not optimal for the delicate task of nurturing green life. An exception to this would be the tending of fruits and seeds; fruits thrive with relentless sun exposure, becoming sweeter the longer they bask and grow. Seeds require warmth and dryness in order to be viable and store well. Therefore, when the moon is in a fire sign, it is considered a Fruit Day.

Syncing up with light availability and gravitational pull, most fruit days are best served as days of tending to the land and focusing on soil cultivation. Below is a cheat sheet for recommended activities while the moon is in a fire sign phase:

New Moon: a day for the mind, for rest, for connecting with the entity of the garden.

Waxing/ First Quarter: planting melons, tomatoes, berries, and other fruits. Note: perennials and larger fruits like trees would do better under a taurus moon or other earth sign so that it can first focus on root stability

Full Moon: a day for the mind, for creation, for celebrating the fruits of the labor. Harvest fruits and have a feast.

Waning/ Third Quarter: harvest fruits for preservation + storage, prune fruit crops and anything you’re growing for seed, do some weeding. Tip: harvest in the morning.

Navigating cosmic climate and corresponding gardening activities can be a lotttttt of information to try and take in, and can definitely be overwhelming! My free substack sends out a weekly Moon Gardening Guide that breaks down which activities are most optimal. You can join that HERE!